At the time of menopause, one of the major problems faced by women is the depletion of hormones. Estrogen and progesterone, two substances of the female body, have many beneficial effects, in addition to influencing sexual activity and behavior. For example, it has been found that they have a protective role in women's cardio-vascular systems. So when the production and secretion of these stops, women have to deal with some major physiological as well as psychological changes in their lives. Recent studies show that the best possible way of coping with this problem is to get treated with bioidentical hormones prepared in a compounding pharmacy.

   Menopause was for a long time treated like a disease, primarily with Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT. This entailed the use of unnatural drugs such as Premarin, which is made from pregnant mare's urine. HRT meant the regular intake of foreign chemicals that have recently found to hinder menopausal coping as much as to help it. They might even cause heart attacks or breast cancer.

   Bioidentical hormone therapy is done through substances that are identical to the hormones already found in the human body. For example, progesterone cream contains something that acts exactly like one of the main hormones produced by the female body. Since they are natural ingredients of the human body, they function in a natural and normal way, which is something that cannot be said about synthetic chemicals. A "natural hormone" is a compound synthesized in a lab from natural sources. For example, soybeans are used for estrogens and testosterone, and wild Mexican yam is often the source of progesterone. And these preparations are mixed in ratios that vary for each patient, so everyone gets it exactly according to her required dose. This work is done in a lab that is also known as a compounding pharmacy.

   While you'll find synthetic hormones only in the form of oral medicine, bioidentical hormones are prepared in a compounding pharmacy in a great variety of delivery systems such as tablets, skin patches, creams, lotions or sublingual drops.

   Are you the right candidate for treatment with bioidentical hormones? You need to consult your doctor for this. Chances are, your doctor will refer you to a compounding pharmacy for the fine-tuning of your medication.